Lifting As We Climb: The Power of Creative Mentorship

Talent is everywhere but access, guidance, and opportunity are not. For many emerging creatives, the difference between potential and progress often comes down to one thing: having someone willing to invest their time, knowledge, and experience.

Mentorship is not simply about giving back, it's about lifting as we climb.

At The Kusp, mentorship is rooted in intentional connection. It goes beyond surface-level networking, focusing instead on creating meaningful relationships where creatives can share knowledge, exchange perspectives, and support one another. These types of connections do more than just inspire, they create real outcomes. Through The Creatives Mentorship Programme, delivered in partnership with Bellhouse Markes, mentors provided six months of one-to-one support to underrepresented creatives in fashion. Mentors shared their expertise, networks, and encouragement, while mentees actively engaged with feedback and took steps toward their goals.

The results reflect the value of that exchange. 86% of mentees reported receiving good/excellent feedback, while 86% said they gained new perspectives and real-life industry insight.

Beyond the numbers, the impact is best captured in the words of those involved.

One mentee shared that the experience gave them the opportunity to be curious and ask questions about working with clients and responding to briefs, stating “I came into the office and was able to ask many questions regarding the process of working with a client and responding to a brief and feedback. I got to see examples of the type of content created by Wild Island Films, this was a great starting reference point for me to begin thinking about what film I would like to create.”

Mentors also found meaning in the process. Many reflected on how rewarding it was to share their knowledge and support emerging talent, with one noting how it was exciting to see Frankie Spence (Mentee) “enjoying where she was at and able to grasp the industry more as a series of personnel connections and not just learnt skills”.

This is how real change happens, not just through individual success, but through collective progress.

Now, we are taking another step to enable more of these experiences to change the career trajectory for more underrepresented talent.


The Kusp’s one-month mentoring programme creates focused, intentional spaces where even a short period of guidance can offer clarity, direction, and momentum across two pathways; career-based or project-based. Over 4-weeks, mentors are match with under-represented creative talent and given the resources for a memorable mentorship experience, which ends with a celebratory event. Our first cohort begins in April 2026.

See here to find out more.

Words by Ivy Atem (Community Specialist Intern)